Broadcasting and the electronic media of the Americas is the
primary theme of this special issue of the Journal. U.S. scholars have
studied systems all over the globe, yet little is known about our
closest neighbors, especially Canada and Mexico. Included in this
special issue is research from a variety of different countries of
North, Central, and South America. It is intended to encourage research
on the broader spectrum of international topics relating to the
countries and electronic media systems of the Western Hemisphere.
This issue was edited by two guest editors, David R. Spencer,
Professor, Faculty of Information and Media Studies, University of
Western Ontario, and Joseph D. Straubhaar, Professor, Department of
Radio-Television-Film, University of Texas, Austin. These coeditors
began last year with a call for papers, which produced numerous
submissions. A limited number were selected for publication here to
illustrate the breadth of research activities currently being
undertaken.
In the mid-1980s the first small steps were taken to eliminate the
borders between two North America nations, Canada and the United States.
Mexico eventually joined the agreement. Although it was relatively easy
to figure out the dimensions under which hard goods could be shipped
north and south, cultural goods were another matter. This collection of
articles examines the role of North and South America media in a day and
age of free trade. In many respects, it is a study in power and how one
party relates to another when messages cross both borders and languages.
In this issue, two articles focus on South America. Avila-Saavedra
looks at the telenovela in Ecuador, a soap opera genre also popular in
Mexico, Central American, and South American television. Wiley discusses
the evolution of Chilean television in a rapidly approaching globalized
world. Two articles focus on a history and criticism of Canadian
broadcasting. Terzic provides a glimpse of policy history and political
economy as it relates to the development of the pay-per-view system in
Canada. Darnell and Wilson look at the sexist language of Vancouver
radio, "Talk Radio for Guys." Two articles on Mexico provide a
look at Mexico's systems from a cultural perspective. Lozano
discusses Mexico's public policies in relation to cultural
diversity, and Wilkinson writes both history and critical analysis
related to Mexican television within a North American Free Trade
Agreement environment. Eyal and Cohen round out the Americas,
researching the U.S. program Friends. Two additional articles continue
the international focus of the issue, but reach across the oceans. Yuan
and Webster discuss channel repertoires in Beijing, and Van Buren
researches hate speech in a critical analysis of anti-Arab Web
animations.
The subject of international media is certainly not new to the
Journal. However, as can be seen in the following JOBEM bibliography,
provided by Professor Straubhaar, there has been comparatively little
research from the last 50 years on U.S. systems and thus there is much
yet to be accomplished. The purpose of this special issue is to provide
a broad overview of what has been done, look at the current research,
and hopefully provide a catalyst for future research ideas. This special
issue begins with the JOBEM bibliography of research in the Americas.
Next, the coeditors drafted an introduction summarizing the past
research work with an eye toward the future.
JOBEM Research on the Americas: A Bibliography
Appelman, D. (1978). The mass media of Latin America: Selected
information sources. Journal of Broadcasting, 22, 217-240.
Browne, D. R. (1996). Comparing electronic media across cultures:
Reflections in a myopic eye? Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic
Media, 40, 265-280.
Demers, F. (2003). Canadian television: The exhaustion of a
domestic paradigm? Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 47,
656-661.
Dupagne, M., & Waterman, D. (1998). Determinants of U.S.
television fiction imports in Western Europe. Journal of Broadcasting
& Electronic Media, 42, 208-220.
Emery, W. B. (1964a). Broadcasting in Mexico. Journal of
Broadcasting, 8, 257-274.
Emery, W. B. (1964b). A comparative study of broadcasting law and
regulations in Mexico and the United States. Journal of Broadcasting, 8,
185-202.
Foote, J. S. (1995). The structure and marketing of global
television news. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 39,
127-133.
Gardner, M. A. (1978). Central and South America mass
communication: Selected information sources. Journal of Broadcasting,
22, 196-216.
Gerbner, G. (2001). The cultural arms of the corporate
establishment: Reflections on the work of Herb Schiller. Journal of
Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 45, 186-190.
Godfrey, D. G., & Spencer, D. R. (2000). Canadian Marconi: CFCF
television from Signal Hill to the Canadian Television Network. Journal
of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 44, 437-455.
Goldberg, M. E., & Gorn, G. J. (1979). Television's impact
on preferences for non-White playmates: Canadian "Sesame
Street" inserts. Journal of Broadcasting, 23, 27-32.
Havens, T. J. (2003). Exhibiting global television: On the business
and cultural functions of global television fairs. Journal of
Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 47, 18-35.
Howell, W. J., Jr. (1980). Broadcast spillover and national
culture: Shared concerns of the Republic of Ireland and Canada. Journal
of Broadcasting, 24, 225-239.
Johansen, P. W. (1973). The CRTC and Canadian content regulation.
Journal of Broadcasting, 17, 465-474.
La Pastina, A. C. (2001). Product placement in Brazilian prime time
television: The case of the reception of a telenovela. Journal of
Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 45, 541-557.
La Pastina, A. C. (2004). Selling political integrity: Telenovelas,
intertextuality, and local elections in rural Brazil. Journal of
Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 48, 302-325.
LeDuc, D. R. (1976). Cable TV control in Canada: A comparative
policy study. Journal of Broadcasting, 20, 435-448.
Lent, J. A. (1978). Mass media in Latin America. Journal of
Broadcasting, 22, 195-196.
Lowry, D. T. (1970). Radio, TV and literacy in Mexico. Journal of
Broadcasting, 14, 239-244.
McDowell, S. D., & Maitland, C. (1998). The V-chip in Canada
and the United States: Themes and variations in design and deployment.
Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 42, 401-422.
Miller, R. E. (1973). The CTRC: Guardian of the Canadian identity.
Journal of Broadcasting, 17, 189-199.
Mosco, V. (2001). Living on in the number one country: The legacy
of Herbert I. Schiller. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media,
45, 191-198.
Newman, J. F. (1966). Radio newscasting in Latin America. Journal
of Broadcasting, 10, 25-32.
Nielsen, R. P., & Nielsen, A. B. (1976). Canadian TV content
regulation and U.S. cultural "overflow." Journal of
Broadcasting, 20, 461-466.
Nolan, M. (1985). Canadian election broadcasting: Political
practices and radio regulation 1919-1939. Journal of Broadcasting &
Electronic Media, 29, 175-188.
Pollard, G., & Johansen, P. (1998). Professionalism among
Canadian radio announcers: The impact of organizational control and
social attributes. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 42,
356-370.
Reis, R. (1999). What prevents cable TV from taking off in Brazil?
Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 43, 399-415.
Scheer, C. J., & Eiler, S. W. (1972). A Comparison of Canadian
and American network television news. Journal of Broadcasting, 16,
159-164.
Shapiro, M. A., & Chock, T. M. (2004). Media dependency and
perceived reality of fiction and news. Journal of Broadcasting &
Electronic Media, 48, 675-695.
Smith, B. L., & Brigham, J. C. (1992). Native radio
broadcasting in North America: An overview of systems in the United
States and Canada. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 36,
183-194.
Soderlund, W. C., Surlin, S. H., & Romanow, W. I. (1989).
Gender in Canadian local television news: Anchors and reporters. Journal
of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 33, 187-196.
Sparkes, V. M. (1976). Community cablecasting in the U.S. and
Canada: Different approaches to a common objective. Journal of
Broadcasting, 20, 451-460.
Tovares, R. (2000). Latino USA: Constructing a news and public
affairs radio program. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media,
44, 471-486.
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